Florida Atlantic at Illinois College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/29/2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

State Farm Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Florida Atlantic Owls head to State Farm Center to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, December 29, 2018. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 14 point favorites.

Florida Atlantic comes into this game with an overall record of 8-4. They currently have a point differential of 6.0 as they are averaging 75.2 points per game while giving up 69.2 per contest. Illinois has an overall mark of 4-8. They are averaging 74.9 points per contest and giving up 75.2, which is a point differential of -0.3.

Valuable Florida Atlantic Owls Betting Trends

The Florida Atlantic Owls are 4-5-0 against the spread this season

The Florida Atlantic Owls are 3-6-0 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 4-8-0 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 7-5-0 against the over/under this year

Key Florida Atlantic Owls Injuries

12/21/18 F Jailyn Ingram ACL is out for season

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

12/01/18 G Tevian Jones Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jailyn Ingram comes into this game averaging 18.9 points per contest while playing 29.7 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Anthony Adger averages 13.8 points per contest in 29.4 minutes per game. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 3.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 36% for the season while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Trent Frazier scores 16.5 points per contest while playing 29.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.3 rebounds per contest and has 3.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Ayo Dosunmu averages 11.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 27.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.3 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 61%.

Useful Team Statistics

Florida Atlantic averages 75.2 points per contest, which is 160th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 6.0 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a unit, which has them ranked 277th. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 288th in the nation. They average 41.6 boards per contest and 13.9 assists per game, which ranks them 19th and 168th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 50th with 15.6 per game. The Owls allow 69.2 points per contest, which is 125th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 92nd and 41st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.9 rebounds a game which ranks 216th, and they allow 12.5 assists per game which puts them in 138th place in the country. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 223rd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 170th in the nation with 74.9 points per contest this season. They are 225th in the country in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -0.3. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 57th in the NCAA. They are 290th in D-1 in rebounding with 33.8 boards per contest and 136th in assists per game with 14.5. The Fighting Illini are 110th in turnovers per contest with 14.4. The Fighting Illini give up 75.2 points per game, which ranks them 255th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 302nd and 221st in those defensive statistics. They rank 126th with 12.3 dimes allowed per game and 263rd with 36.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Fighting Illini are 336th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 17.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Owls have an offensive rating of 103.2, which is ranked 202nd. They are 150th in college basketball in pace with 71.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 257th. As a unit they are 267th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in D-1. Florida Atlantic is 89th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.8 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 131st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.1 times per 100 possessions. The Fighting Illini are 213th in the country in offensive rating with 102.6. In terms of pace they are 86th in Division 1 with 73 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 193rd. As a team they are 224th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 147th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Florida Atlantic/Illinois college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Florida Atlantic +14

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald